Israel Can No Longer Wait: Striking Iran’s Regime

In the wake of Iran’s latest missile attack on Israel—the second such strike in six months—Israeli leaders face a critical decision. The time for waiting has passed; Israel must now take decisive action to neutralize the threat posed by the Islamic Republic. Once a skeptic of military intervention, I now find myself supporting such action, but not against the Iranian people—who are themselves victims of the regime—but against the oppressive leadership that has brought the region to the brink of disaster.

1. A New Attack Demands a New Response

Iran’s recent missile barrage marks an escalation that Israel can no longer afford to tolerate. This is not an isolated incident but the latest in a series of provocations that threaten Israel’s security and regional stability. Israel’s policy of measured restraint must now give way to forceful action to prevent further aggression and ensure that Iran cannot continue its campaign of destabilization.

2. The Time for Action is Now

Israel has reached a critical juncture. Prolonging inaction invites further attacks and undermines Israel’s security doctrine of deterrence. Iran’s missile strikes serve as a clear warning: the longer Israel waits, the more emboldened Tehran becomes. Decisive military action is no longer just an option—it is an imperative.

3. Targeting the Regime, Not the People

The Iranian people are not Israel’s enemy. They are the victims of a brutal regime that has hijacked their country. Any military action must be carefully calibrated to target the Islamic Republic’s power structures—its military bases, missile batteries, naval vessels, and oil terminals—while sparing the civilian population as much as possible. Israel’s fight is not with the people of Iran, but with the regime that oppresses them.

4. Striking at the Leadership

To truly neutralize the threat, Israel and its allies must strike at the heart of the regime. This means targeting the leadership of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei and the generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). By eliminating these figures, Israel can disrupt the regime’s command structure and give the Iranian people a chance to reclaim their country from the forces that have held them captive for decades.

 Ali Khamenei fell right into the Israeli trap.

5. A Strategy to Topple the Regime

Israel’s military action should aim to dismantle the regime’s military and economic infrastructure while crippling its ability to wage war. This is not about occupation—neither Israel nor the US should deploy ground troops in Iran. The goal is to destroy the Islamic Republic’s core institutions, allowing the Iranian people to rise up and establish a new government free from the tyranny of the current regime.

 “I.R. should only be toppled by Iranian people and not the foreign powers. The future Iranian government should be installed by the people. We do not want it to be accused of being a foreign puppet. So, the Iranian people must take advantage of Kamenei’s miscalculation and topple the regime themselves.”

6. A Marshall Plan for a Free Iran

In the aftermath of the regime’s fall, the international community, led by the United States, should step in to help rebuild Iran. A modern-day Marshall Plan, designed to support the Iranian people in rebuilding their economy and democratic institutions, would ensure that the country does not fall into chaos after the regime’s collapse. This would also demonstrate to the Iranian people and the world that Israel’s actions were not intended to destroy their nation, but to give it a chance at a new beginning.

7. No Boots on the Ground

This is not a call for invasion or occupation. Israel and the U.S. must avoid the mistakes of the past, particularly the long and costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Iranian people are capable of rebuilding their own country once the Islamic Republic has been removed from power. Israel’s role, supported by its allies, should be to clear the way for that possibility through targeted military strikes, not through an extended ground presence.

8. A Legacy of Freedom

President Biden now stands at a crossroads. He can choose to continue a policy of appeasement toward Iran, maintaining the status quo while the regime tightens its grip on power. Or he can seize this moment to support the cause of freedom in Iran by helping to remove one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. Such a legacy would resonate not only with the Iranian people but across the globe, signaling a renewed American commitment to democracy and human rights.

9. Cut Off the Head, and the Tentacles Will Wither

The Islamic Republic is like an octopus, with its head in Tehran and its tentacles stretching across the Middle East through proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas. The best way to neutralize these forces is to strike at the head—destroy the regime, and its tentacles will lose their strength. Without the Islamic Republic, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Iranian-backed groups will struggle to survive, let alone threaten Israel or regional stability.

A Strategy for Liberation, Not Occupation

The current regime in Iran poses an existential threat not only to Israel but to the Iranian people themselves. Israel’s military action must be part of a broader strategy aimed at liberating Iran from its rulers, not occupying the country or subjugating its population. By targeting the regime’s military and political leadership, Israel can pave the way for a new, democratic Iran—one that can rejoin the global community and build a future free from tyranny.

This is a critical moment in history. Israel must act decisively, not just to protect its own security but to help bring freedom to the Iranian people. The world is watching, and history will judge how this crisis is resolved.